Special to El Rrun-Rrun
Remember the run by Melissa Landin (Zamora) when she streaked across the local professional and political landscape?
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The Pleasanton native first came to Brownsville as a reporter for the Brownsville Herald, a mentor at the Texas Southmost College newspaper the Scorpion, a city commissioner, public information officer for the Cameron County Judge's Office, a PIO for the District Attorney's Office and an ad agency executive, to name a few.
Falfurrias is hardly a metropolis.![]()
Perhaps that's why she was hired without any credentials as a city administrator. Now we learn that she got the minimal requirements for the position just last December.
Remember the run by Melissa Landin (Zamora) when she streaked across the local professional and political landscape?
The Pleasanton native first came to Brownsville as a reporter for the Brownsville Herald, a mentor at the Texas Southmost College newspaper the Scorpion, a city commissioner, public information officer for the Cameron County Judge's Office, a PIO for the District Attorney's Office and an ad agency executive, to name a few.In July 2019, Landin managed to get hired by the the Falfurrias Board of Aldermen to supervise city departments, support maintenance of the city budget and to represent the municipality vis-a-vis community groups and state and federal governments.
This might be seen as somewhat of a comedown from her previous positions as elected official and PIO for the DA's Office , public relations and marketing for the Community Development Corporation of Brownsville, administrator of marketing and communications for the RGV MultiBank, and before Communications Director for the South Padre Island Convention and Visitors Bureau before being named Harlingen Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director.
She, most will agree, somehow always manages to land on her feet after a ruckus.
This might be seen as somewhat of a comedown from her previous positions as elected official and PIO for the DA's Office , public relations and marketing for the Community Development Corporation of Brownsville, administrator of marketing and communications for the RGV MultiBank, and before Communications Director for the South Padre Island Convention and Visitors Bureau before being named Harlingen Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director.
She, most will agree, somehow always manages to land on her feet after a ruckus.
Falfurrias is hardly a metropolis.
Perhaps that's why she was hired without any credentials as a city administrator. Now we learn that she got the minimal requirements for the position just last December.
In fact, it was five months after she was hired that she got the bare-bones minimum certifications for the position, a managerial certificate.
Falfurrias had all of 6,200 souls in the llano of Brooks County as of the 2010 census.
Falfurrias had all of 6,200 souls in the llano of Brooks County as of the 2010 census.
It is about as far away from modern civilization as one would want to get. It is also the site where bodies of dead migrants are routinely found as they seek to avoid the Border Patrol checkpoint on US 281. It is 81 miles southwest of Corpus Christi, 90 miles southeast of Laredo, and 36 miles south of Alice.
Brownsville is 117 miles south as urraca flies.
As city administrator, she is responsible for overseeing six (6) department and division managers who supervise 50 employees. She is also responsible for the development of program and policy alternatives for consideration by the mayor and council, as well as the implementation of those policies and programs adopted by them.
Other responsibilities include meeting with private citizens, community groups, and public/private entities regarding city policies and programs.
One major responsibility is the formulation and administration of the City budget in order to assure a solid base and rationale for the allocation of funds and resources.
Brownsville is 117 miles south as urraca flies.
As city administrator, she is responsible for overseeing six (6) department and division managers who supervise 50 employees. She is also responsible for the development of program and policy alternatives for consideration by the mayor and council, as well as the implementation of those policies and programs adopted by them.
Other responsibilities include meeting with private citizens, community groups, and public/private entities regarding city policies and programs.
One major responsibility is the formulation and administration of the City budget in order to assure a solid base and rationale for the allocation of funds and resources.
And in 2019, the tax-poor city projected collecting $470,173 in property taxes and work with a tourism fund of $73,000. Compare that with her claim that as vice president for promotions with Elite Promotions implemented a marketing plan that resulted in revenue of more than $350,000 dollars within 18 months.
For that matter, in her resume she lists that she managed the departmental budget of more than $500,000 while in Harligen with the HVCB.
As administrator, she is projecting that the 2020 budget she will administer will total $2.5 million.
When she left her position at the the office of the Cameron County District Attorney's Office she stated left for "personal advancement."
And she was at the Harlingen Convention and Visitors Bureau for only about a year before she was involved in a full-blown controversy.
For that matter, in her resume she lists that she managed the departmental budget of more than $500,000 while in Harligen with the HVCB.
As administrator, she is projecting that the 2020 budget she will administer will total $2.5 million.
When she left her position at the the office of the Cameron County District Attorney's Office she stated left for "personal advancement."
And she was at the Harlingen Convention and Visitors Bureau for only about a year before she was involved in a full-blown controversy.
When she left the position of administrative assistant for then-Cameron County Judge Carlos Cascos, she left under similar circumstances. Fellow staff members said she had demanded Cascos name her in charge of the office when he left town and that he had refused.
Harlingen City Manager Dan Serna told the Valley Morning Star that Landin was fired for “insubordination or other disrespectful conduct,” according to the city’s notice of termination. Serna told the paper that details of the firing were confidential and that he didn't "discuss personnel-related matters.”
The newspaper reported that city’s termination notice stated Landin “refused to follow (Serna’s) instructions” on Jan. 17 for preparations for Mayor Chris Boswell’s State of the City address on Feb. 3.
Harlingen City Manager Dan Serna told the Valley Morning Star that Landin was fired for “insubordination or other disrespectful conduct,” according to the city’s notice of termination. Serna told the paper that details of the firing were confidential and that he didn't "discuss personnel-related matters.”
The newspaper reported that city’s termination notice stated Landin “refused to follow (Serna’s) instructions” on Jan. 17 for preparations for Mayor Chris Boswell’s State of the City address on Feb. 3.
“You were confrontational and clearly stated your refusal to follow the directions of the city manager,” the notice states. “(T)his type of behavior is unacceptable at any level.”
So far, Landin appears to have gotten along with her fellow staffers in Falfurrias. But will her ambitious nature come through again as it has in all he previous positions?